Rumblings xtra: Items that didn't make print edition

Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., might emerge as the Cubs leading managerial candidate if they can't pry top choice Joe Girardi away from the Yankees.

Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., might emerge as the Cubs' leading managerial candidate if they can’t pry top choice Joe Girardi away from the Yankees. Alomar, former Indians manager Manny Acta and ex-Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch were named by Chicago Sun-Times writer Gordon Wittenmyer as top candidates, but only if the team can’t get its top choice..

Alomar interviewedtwo years ago when Dale Sveum got the job, and he is more attractive now after spending a year on the bench with Tribe manager Terry Francona. Francona managed for Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein for eight years while they were both with the Boston Red Sox.

Alomar’s lack of managerial experience is still the only real strike against him.

When New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick tried to find a receiver who has similar qualities to Bengals All-Pro receiver A.J. Green, he went all the way back to the 1970s. Belichick’s Pats visit Cincinnati Sunday.

"(Green is) big, but he’s not the kind of powerful guy, Julio Jones or Vincent Jackson, but his quickness, his ability to separate and get away from people is outstanding and his ability to go up and get the ball is very good too," Belichick said, on a conference call with the New England media. "Those other guys are big, strong guys that can go up and get it with good ball skills. He has that same kind of size, but I’d say it’s a different type of athleticism. He makes some really spectacular catches (that are) Lynn Swann-ish.

"I’d say Green is as good a pure route runner as we’ll see. He’s a very good pure receiver: quick off the ball, creates separation, excellent timing, judgment on the ball, good deep ball receiver, good third down, red area receiver."

Swann, a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame, played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974 to 1982. He was All-Pro in 1974, 1975 and 1978.

The Reds are one of several teams still believed to be in the running for free agent Cuban infielder Alex Guerrero, according to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman. He also named the Red Sox, Giants, Rangers and Dodgers as teams believed to have a chance. At least seven teams have reportedly made offers to the power-hitting shortstop.

The Dodgers reportedly had a verbal agreement with a representative of the 26-year-old middle infielder a few weeks ago, but the deal MLB.com reported as $32 million for five years fell through after it was learned that the players union had not certified the person or people representing Guerrero. He has since signed with agent Scott Boras, who has suggested that a deal is not far off.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly wasn’t talking about a potential injury-red-shirt for running back Greg Bryant, the most highly-recruited offensive player in the Irish’s freshman class, but Bryant’s father apparently was.

Palm Beach Post sports writer Jeff Greer reported on Twitter that Bryant’s father “was telling people” Friday that his son would end up redshirting this season. Kelly later revealed that Bryant didn’t play in the Oklahoma game because of a knee injury.

If Bryant plays in a fourth game the injury redshirt would be out of play.

“I don’t know where that came from,” Kelly told the South Bend Tribune, when asked about a potential redshirt. “When you start talking about medical redshirts and redshirts here at Notre Dame, we are way down that line. We’ve got to slow down a little bit here.

“So for us to talk about it in those terms, all I can tell you is that Greg didn’t play because of a knee injury that he sustained. That’s about it.”

After former Buckeye Donte Whitner was fined $21,000 by the NFL for his collision with St. Louis receiver Chris Givens, the San Francisco 49ers safety designed a bunch of T-shirts with the hash tag #LegalHitner on them in protest.

The San Jose Mercury News reported that he plans to take his protest one step further, legally changing his last name to “Hitner.” The team told the newspaper that Whitner has started the legal process, but it isn’t finalized.

Whitner also plans to contest his fine.

“If the intent isn’t there, I don’t know what we can do as players,” Whiter told the newspaper. “Maybe we should put flags on and pull. Maybe fans will like that. Maybe not.”

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